Article retaining device



1935. F. w. DITTMAN ARTICLE RETAINING DEVICE Filed May 9. 1934 3 rwc/wfm iman,

Fred W Dill Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES ARTICLE RETAINING DEVICE Fred W. Dittman, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Hickok Manufacturing Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 9, 1934, SerialNo. 724,807

8 Claims.

The invention relates to a looped'key or like retaining device.

The object of the present invention is to provide for key chains a key ring assembly of a highly ornamental and attractive character constructed and arranged to represent a bull whip and adapted to present an accurate representation of a bull whip looped and having a lash coiled or twisted around a handle, the loop being adapted to receive keys and capable of being readily opened and closed and permit keys to be placed on the key ring assembly and removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key or other article retaining device having a receiving loop composed of two sides and a connecting portion, one of the sides of the loop being movable with respect to the other and the movable side having interlocking engagement with the said other side and normally maintained in such interlocking engagement by the resiliency of the material of which the device is constructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key ring assembly in the form of a looped bull whip having a portion of the lash spirally coiled around the handle of the bull whip and rigid therewith and the looped portion of the lash ar ranged to form and present the appearance of a continuation of the fixed portion of the lash when the movable side of the loop is interlocked with the other side of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key ring assembly in the form of a looped bull whip having the'interlocking portion of the mov-- able side of the loop arranged to form a guide for placing keys on the key ring assembly when the said movableside of the loop is disengaged from the other side of the loop and the loop is opened to permit keys to be placed on and removed from the same.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being' understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construetion, within the scope of the claims, maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Inthe drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an article retaining device constructed in accordance with this invention, the key ring receiving loop being closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the article retaining device, the loop being open and the terminal engaging portion ofthe movable side of the loop being arranged to form a guide for placing keys on'the assembly.

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged edge view of the retaining device, the movable side of the loop being engaged with the slot in the other side of the loop.

, Fig. 4 is asimilar viewshowing the opposite edge of the retaining device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail longitudinal'sectional view of a portion of the retaining device showing the movable side of the loop in engagement with the slot of the other side of the loop.

In the drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a key chain provided at one end with a key ring assembly and having a swivel 2 at the other end for attachment to a belt, garment or the like, but instead of employing a swivel any other suitable means may, of course, be employed for this purpose. The key ring assembly which is illustrated in the form of a looped bull whip may be constructed of precious or semi-precious metal or any other suitable material, and comprises a bar 3 tapered from its inner end and provided at its outer end with a loop 4 forming a continuation of the bar 3 and tapered longitudinally. The loop and the bar represent thehandle and a portion of the lash of the bull whip and the said loop which is composed of two sides and a connecting portion has one of the sides formed by the bar 3 and the other side 5 which is movable with respect to the bar 3 is arranged at an angle to the same. 1

a The movable side of the loop is provided with a longitudinally curved laterally deflected terminal engaging portion 6 forming a bend 7 which receives one side of the bar when the key receiving loop 4 is closed.

. When the loop 4 is closed the curved terminal engaging portion 6 extends along the bar-3 and is engaged in a slot 8 thereof. The barv is widened or laterally enlarged at the slot and the curved end 6 extends through the slot from one face of the enlarged portion 9 of the bar 3 to theopposite face thereof to a point adjacent a fixed spirally disposed member 10 extending around the inner or handle portion of the bar 3 and simulating or representing the twisted terminal portion of the lash of the bull whip and which spiral member 10, in any event, provides for. a firm grip upon the handle portion of the bar. Thev end of the curved engaging portion 6 of the movable sideof the loop when in the slot is 10- cated contiguous to one end of the fixed spirally coiled member 10 so that the movable side of the loop and the fixed member present the appearance of the lash portion of the bull whip coiled around the inner or handle portion of the bar 3.

The resiliency of the metal of which the retaining device is constructed maintains the curved terminaliportion 60fthe movable side of the loop firmly insengagement with the slot 80f the bar 3 and when the loop is opened by disengaging the end 6 of the movable side 5 of the loop from the slot the said end 6 is carried by the resiliency of' the material to the opposite face ofthe' slotted portion of the bar 3 in engagement with the latter and is arranged at an angle to the same and. 'forms a flaring mouth or entrance to. the loop providing a guide for enabling keys to bereadily placed in the loop of the retaining device.

When the sides of the retaining loop are cornpressed the terminal engaging portion 6 of the movahlerside of: the-loop may be readily sprung into: and out o-ten'gagement with th'ePslott; 1

The bar. 3 is provided atits' inner end withan angularly disposed portion 11 having an opening lz'arrdforming. an Lornamental eye into which is linked a ringl? of'the. key chain.

What :is claimed is: 7

1'. A keyring assembly for'key chains comprising a bar provided at oneend with meansifor conneetingitto akey chain and. having a loop at theiother: endcomposed ofitwo sides and an outer connectingportiom. the; bar forming one of the sides-of thetloop and the other side ofthe loop being curved inwardly toward and beyondsand movable with respect to the. bar portion of the loop' and having. a terminal longitudinally curved laterally deflected engaging portion. extending alongone side; of'..the' bar and. engaged with the sameto lock: the loop. in closed position. and adapted to extend alongvthe opposite sideof the bar: andarranged at .an angle thereto to formia guidev for. thepassage of keys into the. loop when the loop is. unlocked,.said bar being laterally en.- larged'; adjacent the .engaging'end: of the movable side of the loop and. having an. opening. spaced from. the loop and receiving. thersaidengaging end. to lock the loop.

2. A key ring assemblyafor'key chains:comprising arelatively long stiff bar provided at one end with mcansifor. connecting it to. a key chain and intermediate its ends having an. opening and having. a; loop: at. the: other: end-composed of two sides and. an .outer. connectingportion, the bar forming one of the sides'ofthe loop and the other side of the loop being curved inwardly and cross.- ing' the bar. portion. of the loop. inccontact therewith andin spaced relation to said opening and movable withzrespect to th'eibar portion of the loop; and having :a terminal longitudinally curved laterally deflected portion extending along one side of :thepbar toward said opening and loop into said opening to lock the loop in closed position and'extending alongthe opposite side of the bar and arrangedat an angle'theretoto'form a guide fonkeys when the loop is open or. unlocked.

3. A.1looped retaining device comprising a..relatively stifi. bar' provided with an opening and forming oneisideof theloopof the.retaining device, the oppos'itesideaof the loop being extended (across-tho bar from one side thereof to the 'opposite side of the same and abutting theibar in spaced relation tosaidopening with'the terminal portion: ofethel-said-z opposite side .1013 the -loop extending from saidiabuttinguengagement between thezdoop. portions: and curved. inwardly toward the bar and extending into the opening in the bar to retain the loop detachably closed.

4. A device comprising a bar having an opening intermediate of its ends and a loop formation at one end of the bar, one portion of the bar beyond the opening therein forming one side of the loop and the free end of the opposite side of the loop being laterally deflected and contacting the first mentionedside of. the loopin spaced relation to the said opening and having a deflected terminal portion projecting into the said opening to retain the loop closed until the said terminal portion is manually displaced from the opening.

5.. A looped retaining device comprising a bar providedlwitlian. opening intermediate its ends and beyondthe opening forming one side of the loop of the retaining device and the opposite side of'the-loop being curved and at one portion contacting with and crossing the bar portion of the loop outwardly of the bar beyond said opening and at itsterminal end being reversely curvediinwardly toward the bar and disposed longitudi nally of the latter and having its free extremity removably inserted in said. opening inthe barto lock the loop..

6. A looped retaining device comprising; abar provided with an opening and beyond the: opening forming one side ofthe loop of theretaining device and the opposite side of the :loop contact: ing with and crossing the bar of the loop in spaced relation to said opening and being laterally deflected toward the bar and extending in a direc= tion longitudinally of the bar and having the free end of the laterally deflected portion extending inwardly in contacting relation with the bar and removably insertable insaid opening.

7. A looped retaining device comprisinga tapering bar having an opening intermediatesits ends and having its end of greater diameter arranged to provide a handle portion; and-at the smaller end of the bar having a loop composed of two sides and an outer connecting portion, a portion of'the bar forming. one of the sides of the loop and the other side of the loop being curved inwardly toward and beyond and: movable with respect to the bar portion of the loop; and. at its outer end deflected laterallyrand'curvedswith said curved portion extending longitudinally-of the barandits extremity hawngrdetach'atile engagement in said opening;.saidcuirvediportion and the said extremity thereoilwhen' unfastenedm-ith relation to said opening'springing to the opposite side of the bar: andzrenga'ging;thei'latterflto provide a yieldably' openingzg'uide for the: insertion of an article into.the..loop;.. 1

8. A looped retaining device 'compnisingrarta pering bar having. an openingintermediate: its ends" and having its end" of greater diameter arranged to provide a handle.portiomandiat the smaller endsof the bar. havingmailoop;composed of two sides and an outerlconnectingpontiorrra portion of the bar forming: one OfilthEiSldESl-Offthb loop and the other side ofztlreloopnbeingficurved inwardly toward and beyond iand movable-with respect to the bar portion of theiloop anaemia outer end deflected laterally and; cuiwedllwith said curved portion extending longitudinally" of the bar and its extremity havingzadetaohablevengagement: in said opening; said curved::portion and the said extremity thereof when unfastened with relation to said opening ispringinge to'rfthe opposite side of the bar and; :engagingz' tlie. latter to provide a yieldably'openingzguidenfor the imsertion "of. an article into the loopexandra :twisted coiledimember-on' the handletiportionrextending substantially throughout the length of the latter and at its inner end terminating at said opening of the bar to thereby permit said twisted coiled member to assume a continuation of a lashed formation of the smaller end of the bar extended as if wrapped around the handle portion of the device when the free end of the movable side of the loop is disposed in said opening, the twisted coiled member providing a roughness for the handle portion of the device to efiect a firm grip on the handle portion.

FRED W. DITTMAN. 

